When You Should Vote For Book Burning

The people of Troy, Mich. almost lost their public library—until they launched a shocking reverse-psychology campaign to convince their city it still needs books.

posted Jul 09, 2012

"Vote to Close Troy Library Aug 2."

"Book Burning Party Aug 5."

So read the yard signs designed to get people's attention and change the conversation about library funding in Troy, Mich.—from one all about taxes to one about the value of libraries.

The provocative campaign to save a library at risk of losing funding was intended to counter Tea Party supporters' messaging about what the vote primarily addressed—tax hikes, in the their book.

Touching people's emotions to make them think about the issue in a new way, the campaign turned a vote that was almost certain to cause the closure of the library to one that reflected what the community really wanted.

The recall failed. So what’s next for the Cheddar Revolution?

A sense of history and community tugged at the heart of Mindy Fullilove and pulled her back to the Jersey home she'd forsaken.

How to build community here and now—because neighborhoods are more than houses in proximity.

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